Static-induction toy



Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,025

F. G. HANBACK STATIC INDUCTION TOY Filed Feb. 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1928.

F. G. HANBACK STATIC INDUCTION TOY Filed Feb. 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j rjf @mib/woo ef' Wa,

@Nmap Patented Feb. 14, 1928.6*

FRANK G. HANBACK, QF NEW YORK.

STATIC-INDUCTION TOY.

Application led February 28, 1927. Serial Io. 171,682.

The invention relates to toys of the type in which a play piece is movable between a board and a transparent plate, under the iniiuence of static currents induced by friction upon the plate, and it is the principal aim of such invention to provide a toy in which a simulation of an animate object is embodied and in which the faculty of eating is amusingly represented.

In carrying out the above end, further objects are to provide one or more play pieces in the form of food (actual or representation which may be moved toward the mouth of t e animate simulation under the influence of the induced static currents; to embody at least one' of the play pieces in such form as to represent a part, which the animate object simulated, commonly moves while eating; specifically, to embody at least said one play piece in the form of a movable mouth part and to make novel provision whereby such part guards a mouth opening of the simulation, adding to the difficulty of effecting movement of the food into said mouth opening.

The improved toy preferably embodies a compartment behind the board to receive any play piece or pieces passing through the mouth opening or other opening which may be rovided through the board, and a still furt er object is to provide a guarded opening through which the play piece or pieces may readily be returned from the compartment to the space between the board and the transparent plate, movement of the .guard to inoperative position and return of the play piece or pieces being effected by gravity when the toy is turned to the proper position.

. With the foregoing and minor objects in' view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a toy constructed in accordance with m invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiona view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevations showin toys of different designs and yslightly dierent construction.4

In the drawings above briey described, certain speciiic'details of construction have been shown, and while these details will be hereinafter rather specifically described it 1s to be understood at the outset, that wit 'n the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 5 designates an appropriate frame structure which may be of any desired configuration and constructed from any adequate number of parts, although said frame construction is preferably retangular and is formed of front and rear frames suitably secured together.

Secured to the frame 5, I have shown a front, transparent plate 6 of glass or celluloid, a back-board 7 of cardboard or other desired material, and an intermediate or partition board 8 which may also be formed of cardboard or other desired material. At 9, a finishing frame of cardboard has been shown around the peripheral edge of the transparent front plate 6, but such details as this may well be left to the choice of the manufacturer.

Upon the front side of the board 8, I provide a simulation 10 of an animate ob]ect, and such simulation may be formed by sketching, painting, embossing or in any other desired manner. This simulation embodies a mouth representation 11, and play pieces 12 are provlded between the board 8 and the transparent plate 6 to be moved to the mouth representation 11, under the influence of static currents produced by rubbing upon the transparent plate 6, withvany desired friction-creating member, such as a. felt pad 13. This pad may well be attached to the frame by a cord 14.

lThe play pieces 12 are constituted either by representations or actualities of food, having characteristics which would make it acceptable to the animate object represented by the simulation 10, and it will thus be seen that the faculty of eating may be well sim-l ulated by the use of the toy.

The simulation embodies a movable portion 15, simulating a part which the animate object, simulated by the simulation 10, commonly moves when eating, and this member 15 is adaped for movement under the influence of the static currents induced by rubbing upon the front plate 6. Hence, the

habit of eating may be even more realistically and amusingly represented lor simulated.

The mouth simulation 10 preferably embodies an opening 16 into which the play pieces 12 may pass, and-the member 15 isY preferably embodied in the form of a movable mouth part which normally covers or guards the opening 16, adding to the diiii culty which t e player will experience when attempting to feed the simulation 10. This simulation, in the particular figures under discussion, is a representation of a' monkey, the movable member 15 represents his upper lip and this member is loosely connected with the board 8 by threads 17.

Any of the play pieces passing through the opening 16, are received in the compartment or receptacle 18 formed behind the board 8, by the back-board 7 and surrounding portions of the frame 5, and to permit return of these play pieces to the front side of the board 8, I provide this board with an additional' opening 19 which is preferably located near one corner of the frame. A movable closure 20 however at the front side of the board 8 normally closes the opening 19 and may well be pivotally connected with said board 8, by a piece of fabric or the like 21. When using the toy, the closure 20 preferably remains unaffected by the static currents, but when said toy is inverted, the closure 20 will drop open by gravity and the play pieces 12 may then pass through the opening 19, returninof to the space between the front plate 6 and the board 8 `from the compartment or receptacle 18, it being of course necessary to shake the frame to causc the play pieces to move toward said opening 19.

It is to be understood that I am not restricted to any particular simulation such as 10, nor to a representation of an animal, as simulations of human beings, birds, fish, repltles, insects, etc., may be employed at w1 In Fig. 4;, a simulation 10a is provided of a human being, and the mouth simulation 11a embodies an opening such as 16a normally guarded by a loosely mounted movable portion 15a similar to the portion 15 above described. 12a in this view, designates the play pieces, constituted by representations or actualities of food, and 20a designates a closure for an opening 19 like the opening 19 above described.

In Fig. 5, a simulation 10b of a duck is \shown, and the mouth simulation 11b thereof embodies a movable bill member l5b cor responding to the members 15 and 15a, previousl described. 12b in this figure denotes the p ay pieces, constituted by representations or actualities of food.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have produced aI new and improved toy, with which the faculty or habit of eating may be simulated in a very amusing and entertaining mannen Excellent results have been obtained from u details herein disclosed, but attention is again invited to the fact that the present disclosure is for illustrative lpurposes only.

1. In a toy of the type in which a play piece is movable between a board and a transparent plate under the influence of static currents induced by friction upon the plate; a simulation of an animate object upon the board, said simulation embodying a representation of a mouth and a second representation of a part which the animate object simulated moves when eating, said second representation being movably connected with the board and being adapted for movement under the influence of the induced static currents while attempt is bein made to move the play piece to the mout representation under such influence.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; said mouth representation embodying an opening into which the play piece may pass, said second'representation being loosely connected to the board adjacent said opening and adding difficulty to passage of the play piece into said opening.

3. In a toy of the type in which a play piece is movable between a board and a transparent plate under the influence of static currents induced by friction upon the plate; a simulation of an animate object upon the board, an opening in the board into which the play piece may move, and a guard member adding diiiculty to passage of the play piece into said opening, said guard member being loosely connected to the board adjacent the openin and being movable under the influence o? the static currents induced by friction upon the plate.

4. In a toy of the type in which a play piece is movable between a board and a transparent plate under the influence of static currents induced by friction upon the plate; a simulation of an animate object upon the board, an opening in the board through which the play piece may pass, a compartment behind the board to receive the ,pla piece, an additional opening through whic the play piece may return by gravity to the front of the board when the toy is moved to a proper position, and a normally closed closure for said additional opening adapted to open by gravity when the toy is moved to said position.

5. A static induction toy comprising a frame, a transparent front plate, a back board and an intermediate or partition board all secured to said frame, a play piece between the front plate and the partition board, the latter having an opening through which the play piece may pass rearwardly and another opening near the frame through which said play piece may again (pass forwardly, and a pivoted gravity-'opene closure for said other opening.

6. In a toy of the type in which a playpiece is movable between a board and a transthe mouth representation solely under the 10 parent plate under the inuence of static inliuence of the induced static currents, said currents induced by friction upon the plate; mouth representation being movable under a simulation of an animate object upon the the iniiuence of said static currents While board embodying a representation of a utilizing the latter to effect movement of the mouth movably attached to the animate play-piece to said mouth representation. 15 representation on said board; the play-piece In testimony whereof I have hereunto being constituted by simulation or actuality aiixed my signature.

of food and being adapted for movement to FRANK G. HANBACK. 

